Talk:Yellow-bellied slider

My Slider...

I have one of these very critters and twice he has tried to kill my other turtle so now they are in separate tanks. Any chance someone could detail info on how well these little guys coexist with other turtles -i think my other guy is some form of map turtle but havent found out for sure which type of map yet. Some info on this ones ability to live with other types would be mighty helpful cheers. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 149.254.49.217 (talk) 21:22, 12 February 2009 (UTC)

don't have the link on me, but it may even be in the article. look for austin's turtle page on google and they have a pretty good turtle care website. I thought that they got along OK with other sliders, cooters, and even map turtles. They might have more info for you though!

How long can they live out of water and is it okay to hold them. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.193.227.233 (talk) 15:35, 3 September 2009 (UTC)

Not sure how long it will live out of water... but it's a reptile so they breath air and don't need to be in water to survive, altough they much prefer it and spend most of their time submerged or at the surface (except when basking). You can hold them but be careful in case it tries to run/jump away and falls out of your hand. The bigger they get, the more likely they are to bite, and it can be painful (though you probably won't lose your finger). I have one about 4-5" in long and he doesn't like to be handled but he doesn't bite either (will actually take food out of my hand w/o biting). Check out Austin's Turtle page for more care info. Lime in the Coconut 20:07, 14 December 2009 (UTC)

Hibernation

I am curious to know if these turtles hibernate in the wild. I have a pet one who I'm pretty sure was wild-caught, and he seems pretty sluggish now that there's not a lot of daylight. They are native to my location, and though it gets down to ~20 deg F on occasion. I noticed many sites say to keep the water temp between 70-80, but if they can survive in the wild @ water temps as low as 50 F and air temp much lower, is it all really necessary?

I purchased a heater for the aquarium and he still seems to nap a lot more than he used to, but he's very active and basking midday. I wonder if he has some sort of natural inclination to hibernate or if he's just being sluggish? Haven't found anything to say that they do hibernate, but haven't found anything that says they are alright kept in an unheated tank. Lime in the Coconut 20:12, 14 December 2009 (UTC)

from the Red-eared slider page: [edit] Hibernation

Reptiles do not hibernate but actually brumate, becoming less active but occasionally rising for food or water. Brumation can occur in varying degrees. Red-eared Sliders brumate over the winter at the bottom of ponds or shallow lakes. They become inactive, generally, in October, when temperatures fall below 50 °F (10 °C). Individuals usually brumate underwater. They have also been found under banks and hollow stumps and rocks. In warmer winter climates they can become active and come to the surface for basking. When the temperature begins to drop again, however, they will quickly return to a brumation state. Sliders will generally come up for food in early March to as late as the end of April. Red Eared Sliders kept captive indoors should not hibernate. To prevent attempted hibernation/brumation in an aquarium, lights should be on for 12–14 hours per day and the water temperature should be maintained between 76–80 °F (24–27 °C). Water temperatures must be under 55 °F (13 °C) in order for aquatic turtles to brumate properly.[6] Controlling temperature changes to simulate natural seasonal fluctuations encourages mating behavior.

I have a Red-eared turtle, she's about 4 years old now. I was given a Yellow-bellied (no one wanted him from work). I put them togther as they have a huge black liner to live in. Although, the Red-eared did not take kindly to sharing his home with the Yellow-bellied turtle, which is about a year or so old. It was not even a day together that I found I had to separate them. I watched as the Red-eared picking at the Yellow-bellie's feet. The Yellow-bellied would either stay and hide the rest of his limbs and or swim away as quick as he can. I will have to do more testing with these two; in hopes that they can both live in the same pond. (without either one getting hurt)

As for the temperature of the water; mine some times gets down to 60 or 65 and my Red-eared just loves it. Because her pond is in touch with the ground, the earth keeps the bottom kind of warm. So I am not too worried about the weather changing (cold-chilly air); higher or lower. My Red-eared is seems happy in her pond which has a filter/fountain in the middle with a landing about 12" x 12". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.91.12.109 (talk) 08:01, 28 December 2009 (UTC)

If anyone feels like including this in the article or just copy/pasting it. Lime in the Coconut 20:28, 14 December 2009 (UTC)